College season is just around the corner. Many of us are already living on campus and waiting for the rest of the student population to move in. Some of us are still waiting until the official move in day to avoid additional early move-in fees. Regardless of the situation, the following are the stages of moving into your first dorm room that I thought were relatable to the young people.
1. Overthinking (And Overpacking)
Am I packing too much? Do I really need this? I think I have too many boxes. These are all common thoughts before packing up the car to make your way to college. The car might be stuffed to the brim, you might have anxiety about the pressure all this luggage is putting on the tires, but in the end, most of your stuff gets there safely.
2. Not Packing What You Actually Need
The second you drop your stuff in your room you realize that there are a hundred things you still need. From notebooks to extension cords, to bed sheets and mattress pads, all the stuff you need to get at your local Target or Costco amazes you. For those who have to fly to their colleges, getting the necessities once you arrive may be the better option. Especially if they want to avoid baggage fees.
3. Sending Back Stuff With Mom
Once you realize how small the rooms actually are, you’ll want to send stuff back home with your parents. Some things won’t fit, others don’t serve the purpose you thought, and some stuff just isn’t necessary. There are still some things your mom will want you to keep, and at this point, all the stuff in your room might just overwhelm you.
4. Not Being Organized
The first few days will be a disaster. Nothing will be in the right spot, and you’ll still be figuring out how to navigate your residence hall. And the occasional people in your hall walking by and telling you about how they have everything together won’t help. It’s great if you have your life together, but I am still the hot mess in this hall.
5. Losing Things
Where’s my water bottle? I just had it! Did I pack that shirt I like? It’ll seem like once you have everything in place, something will disappear or suddenly not exist. Did your favorite shirt get sucked into the void or just fall behind your bed? The world may never know. Maybe it would have been better to just leave the room the way it came: empty.
6. Locking Yourself Out
If you haven’t locked yourself out of your room by now, you will at one point. It’s inevitable. Most of the time, you can just go the front desk and get a temporary replacement card or key for a low charge, or ask your roommate to let you back in. However, losing your room card or key is a whole other problem, and hopefully one you’ll never face.
7. Everything Finally Comes Together
Finally, you have organized all of your things, your bed is made, your first load of laundry is done, and you can lay back and relax. You can spend some time online or reading a book or doing whatever else you want. Now, we’ll just have to see if that lasts.
